Doha: The Lord Mayor of the City of London, an Ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services industry, has started a visit to Qatar to strengthen trade links between the City of London and Qatar.
This will be the Lord Mayor’s first international visit since the start of the pandemic and his second to Qatar in 2020, said a statement of UK Embassy in Doha.
William Russell (pictured), the Lord Mayor, is expected to meet with Minister of Finance, H E Ali Shareef Al Emadi, CEO of Qatar Investment Authority, H E Mansoor Ebrahim Al Mahmoud, and the Governor of Qatar Central Bank, H E Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud Al Thani, and other high-level Qatari dignitaries.
Lord Mayor Russell, the 692nd incumbent of a role that dates back centuries, is the leader of London’s ‘Square Mile,’ or financial district, and has over thirty years’ experience in City, including holding senior positions in the national and international banking sector.
Commenting on his visit to Qatar, the Lord Mayor of London, William Russell said: “I am pleased to be visiting Qatar this week – my first overseas visit since the start of the pandemic. Together, we have a great opportunity to be leaders in building a more resilient, more digitalised and greener global economy, especially ahead of COP 26 in Glasgow next year. I was especially delighted that the Qatar National Bank issued a $600m Green
Bond on the London Stock Exchange this September, and look forward to following up on this initiative in Qatar.”
He added: “This is crucial moment for us all to boost global trade and economic growth as we build back better after the pandemic. Qatar is an important investment partner for the City of London and the wider UK. We have long-standing partnerships with Qatar’s financial institutions, and the City of London also stands ready to support Qatar as it develops its own financial services sector.
“There are substantial opportunities for closer collaboration in areas such as green finance and technology, and of course, with Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup just two years away, the UK’s financial services sector is on hand to work to help deliver a successful and sustainable event.”
British Ambassador to Qatar, Jon Wilks, said: “The trade and investment relationship between Qatar and UK has continued to grow in the past year despite coronavirus. That is because both countries are committed to building a strong partnership for the future. I am delighted that The Lord Mayor William Russell has chosen a return visit to Qatar as his first official visit since lockdown.”
“Building back better after coronavirus holds exciting opportunities for both countries. UK financial services, including the City of London, are enthusiastic to develop new partnerships with Qatar in green finance, health, technology and the sports economy, among other sectors. We are all looking forward to a brighter 2021.”
